Although he likely won't issue his final ruling until the bills come up for second reading, Scheer has nonetheless invited interested MPs -- including, presumably, members of the government -- who want to argue for or against the need for a royal recommendation to do so "at an early opportunity."

If the initial decision stands -- which, history would suggest, it almost certainly will -- Mulcair and Pilon may end wasting those much-coveted spots on the precedent list with bills that won't be permitted to move beyond the House of Commons, even if they did manage to squeak through to third reading before the speaker blows the whistle.

UPDATE: I've subsequently been told that, contrary to what I initially wrote, members do not, in fact, have the option of swapping out a bill deemed to be in need of an accompanying royal recommendation.

Stay Connected with CBC News

About the Author

Kady O'Malley has been covering the Hill for more than a decade (yes, really) for a variety of publications. An Ottawa girl (not quite born, but raised), she has a passion for politics that borders on the unhealthy, and has liveblogged her way through hundreds of committee meetings, press conferences, judicial inquiries, budget launches, cabinet shuffles, and even the odd constitutional crisis. Oh, and yes, her Boston Terrier really is named "BlackBerry."
For up-to-the-minute bulletins, follow Kady on twitter!